Apparatus for marking a laboratory sample carrier

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for marking a laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ), includes a guide ( 5 ) configured to guide a sample carrier ( 2 ) from an entry location ( 6 ) to an exit location ( 7 ), and a print head ( 23 ) configured and positioned to mark a sample carrier ( 2 ) at a marking location ( 24 ) at a guide position intermediate the entry and exit locations ( 6, 7 ). The guide ( 5 ) is inclined such that a laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) can travel from the entry to the exit locations ( 6, 7 ) under the influence of gravity. The apparatus ( 1 ) further includes a selectively deployable stop ( 41 ) for arresting the travel of a sample carrier ( 2 ) down the guide ( 5 ) at the marking location ( 24 ), the stop ( 41 ) being undeployable to allow the sample carrier ( 2 ) to travel from the marking location ( 24 ) to the exit location ( 7 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for marking a laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ), including:
 (i) a guide ( 5 ) configured to guide a sample carrier ( 2 ) from an entry location ( 6 ) to an exit location ( 7 ); and 
 (ii) a marking apparatus ( 23 ) configured and positioned to mark a sample carrier ( 2 ) at a marking location ( 24 ) at a guide position intermediate the entry and exit locations ( 6 ,  7 ), 
 wherein the guide ( 5 ) is vertical or inclined such that a sample carrier ( 2 ) can travel from the entry to the exit locations ( 6 ,  7 ) under the influence of gravity and the apparatus ( 1 ) further includes 
 a selectively deployable first stop ( 41 ) for arresting the travel of a sample carrier ( 2 ) down the guide ( 5 ) at the marking location ( 24 ), the first stop ( 41 ) being undeployable to allow the sample carrier ( 2 ) to travel from the marking location ( 24 ) to the exit location ( 7 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a first sensor ( 39 ) that senses that a said laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) has entered the apparatus ( 1 ). 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a tape positioning member between the marking apparatus ( 23 ) and the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a selectively deployable second stop ( 33 ) for stopping the travel of a laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) from the entry location ( 6 ) to the marking location ( 24 ), the second stop ( 33 ) being undeployable to allow the sample carrier ( 2 ) to travel to the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a second sensor ( 47 ) that senses that the laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) has been placed in the correct position at the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first stop ( 41 ) is arranged to be undeployed when the second sensor ( 47 ) senses that the laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) has been placed in an incorrect orientation at the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a translating member ( 16 ,  18 ,  19 ,  22 ) arranged to move the marking apparatus ( 23 ) in a first direction ( 25 ) towards or away from the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , including a moving member ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) arranged to move the marking apparatus ( 23 ) in a second direction ( 15 ) along the guide ( 5 ) transversely to the first direction ( 25 ). 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the moving member ( 12 ) is arranged to undeploy a selectively deployable second stop ( 33 ) for stopping the travel of a laboratory sample carrier ( 2 ) from the entry location ( 6 ) to the marking location ( 24 ), the second stop ( 33 ) being undeployable to allow the sample carrier ( 2 ) to travel to the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the moving member ( 12 ) is arranged to undeploy the first stop ( 41 ). 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the translating member ( 75 ,  97 ) is arranged to deploy a selectively deployable sample carrier holding apparatus ( 84 ) that holds a laboratory sample carrier ( 61 ) at the marking location ( 80 ). 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a marking apparatus biasing member ( 21 ) that biases the marking apparatus ( 23 ) towards the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , including an actuator ( 18 ,  19 ) arranged to counter the marking apparatus biasing member ( 21 ) to move the marking apparatus ( 23 ) away from the marking location ( 24 ). 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a carriage ( 12 ) to which the marking apparatus ( 23 ) is mounted. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , including a member ( 38 ) to undeploy said first stop ( 33 ) mounted to move with the carriage ( 12 ). 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a selectively deployable sample carrier holding apparatus ( 84 ) that holds a laboratory sample carrier ( 61 ) at the marking location ( 80 ). 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the sample carrier holding apparatus comprises a pair of sample carrier holding portions ( 84 ) arranged to be deployed by being rotated towards the marking location ( 80 ) and arranged to be undeployed by being rotated away from the marking location ( 80 ). 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first stop ( 86 ,  88 ) comprises part of the sample carrier holding apparatus ( 84 ). 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as claimed in any  claim 16 , wherein the sample carrier holding apparatus ( 84 ) includes a mechanism ( 89 ) for rotating the laboratory sample carrier ( 61 ) at the marking location ( 80 ). 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the sample carrier holding apparatus rotating mechanism ( 89 ) is arranged to rotate the laboratory sample carrier ( 61 ) when the marking apparatus ( 76 ) is positioned to mark the laboratory sample carrier ( 61 ).